Free preschool for low-income families now enrolling in Oakland County

Pontiac, Mich., Aug. 6, 2012 – Children of low-income families have the opportunity to achieve positive social and educational success through the free Head Start Preschool at OLHSA, A Community Action Agency. OLHSA is now holding enrollment for kids ages 3-5 years for the upcoming school year in its Head Start classrooms throughout Oakland County.

Head Start serves children of families living in Oakland County who don’t have access to traditional preschool programs. Head Start runs September through June, and children can attend full day or half-day morning or afternoon sessions Monday through Thursday. Each year, OLHSA teaches and enhances the lives of 1,601 children enrolled in 18 locations throughout the county, with 504 children taught at OLHSA’s Pontiac location alone. Ten percent of the enrollment for Head Start is reserved for children with a diagnosed disability.

Education is not the only focus of Head Start and OLHSA’s other early childhood programs. Medical, dental, mental and nutritional services are provided in order to give children a positive and healthy advantage. Parental involvement is also strongly encouraged in order to strengthen families. Parents can participate in administrative decisions and workshops held throughout the year to learn educational activities that can be conducted at home.

With a vision of preparing today’s children to succeed in tomorrow’s world, OLHSA’s Head Start program commits itself to providing students with the skills and competencies necessary to enter kindergarten and continue a lifetime of positive growth and development.

Deputy Director for Child Services and Head Start Connie Sidor finds it very satisfying to be able to give the Head Start parents and children what they need to be happy, strong and successful.

“It is very exciting to bond with the Head Start families in the fall and watch both the children and parents grow and evolve throughout the school year,” said Sidor.

To meet the needs of low-income families with very young children, OLHSA also offers Early Head Start for ages birth to two years. With the same comprehensive approach to wellness and education as Head Start, Early Head Start gives a safe, nurturing and educational daycare option that is particularly helpful to low-income parents who are in school, working or seeking employment.

Parents who are interested in enrolling their children in the Early Head Start or Head Start program and want more information can call OLHSA’s Head Start office at (248) 409-1605 or visit www.olhsa.org/early-childhood-programs.

OLHSA is a Community Action Agency improving the quality of life for people facing crisis while strengthening families, communities, seniors and youth since 1964. Over 300,000 services were provided in 2011 in the pursuit of helping people and changing lives.  www.olhsa.org